Installed Ubuntu 14.04...now what?

[Soapy Sam]

Linux can bring new life to a laptop/PC that is struggling to cope with windows.

Every computer bought in my family in the last couple of years came with 2GB ram standard. They ran Win7 fine - for a while. However, in every case, they gradually slowed down until it wasn't worth switching the thing on.

I could solve the problem by installing more ram or .........................

You think this was due to Windows updates?

My experience is that about every two years it pays to shift everything to a back up drive, then reformat the OS disk , reinstall Windows and reupdate the updates.

The problem seems to be gradual degradation or silting up of the registry structure.

 

[Donal]

When I travel, I go to libraries to check my email.* Most of them have wifi available, so I can use my laptop rather than one of the library's computers.

After connecting to the library website I usually need tob ring up a library website to accept the TOS. This always requires opening IE. Don't know why I can't use Firefox, which is set as my default browser.


*ETA I camp, usually where there is no electricity, let along wifi.

Ya, I see a lot of government agencies still require IE to be able to use their pages too. Granted, it is still way more convenient to register and pay through them than going down the offices or relying on snail mail and faxes, but come on. It is 2014 after all.

 

[The_Fire]

Inkscape does SVG (vector) files. GIMP should be able to export to various formats. I think an older version of Photoshop files is in there somewhere. Its been a while since I've had to do that though....

ETA: If you have a photoshop license, try checking out WineHQ for how to get it running under ubuntu https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=version&iId=25607

 

[xterra]

Ya, I see a lot of government agencies still require IE to be able to use their pages too. Granted, it is still way more convenient to register and pay through them than going down the offices or relying on snail mail and faxes, but come on. It is 2014 after all.

Apparently for those government agencies, it's still the early 1990s.

 

[tuoni]

At one point I dual booted, into Linux for coding and Windows for gaming. Linux is better for coders, and especially if one does any sysadmin type stuff.

Now I just run CentOS in a VirtualBox, too annoying going back and forth, and I can't give up the gaming

I've done it pretty much the other way 'round, I run Debian and then have Win7 running under kvm. Using Synergy, I can just move my mouse off the left-hand monitor and switch monitor inputs to play games. Works a treat*, plus no dual-boot!

*It does require certain hardware to work, but the features needed are in a good chunk of the consumer market nowadays

 

[psionl0]

You think this was due to Windows updates?

My experience is that about every two years it pays to shift everything to a back up drive, then reformat the OS disk , reinstall Windows and reupdate the updates.

The problem seems to be gradual degradation or silting up of the registry structure.

I once made the mistake of doing that on a Vista machine (yes, I know, Vista was poor even by Microsoft standards).

The computer then spent all day downloading upgrades - and requiring me to reboot the machine each time. Finally it finished upgrading all the way to Service Pack 1.

And then ................

 

[Axiom_Blade]

What types of files does Inkscape create? The annoying thing about GIMP (as with most OS productivity software) is that it doesn't use the same types as the proprietary standard options.

I understand that it can be hard if you're working with free software and a collaborator is using proprietary software. Unfortunately, proprietary file formats have myriad licensing issues and secretiveness that make them especially challenging for free software developers. Fortunately, huge strides in compatibility have been made over the years.

You can export to Adobe Photoshop PSD from GIMP by going to File > Export As. The reason why GIMP has its own file format (XCF) instead of defaulting to saving as PSD is likely due to licensing issues. Inkscape saves to SVG, which is an open standard developed by the World Wide Web Consortium.

Does Geany come with hot keys to c-n-p frequently used code? Like if I am making multiple pages for one site and want to maintain the same structure, can I just save the basic parameters to a clip board or something?

Oh, I learned something today. Yes, you can! They're called "snippets", and you can read about them here. I love Geany. It can do so much, and I always feel like I've barely scratched the surface.

 

[Soapy Sam]

I once made the mistake of doing that on a Vista machine (yes, I know, Vista was poor even by Microsoft standards).

The computer then spent all day downloading upgrades - and requiring me to reboot the machine each time. Finally it finished upgrading all the way to Service Pack 1.

And then ................

I never said it was easy

 

[CORed]

A question for Donal and Blue Bubble.

Over the years, I have installed various distros of Linux, most recently Ubuntu 10.x (IIRC)- on various computers. The story is always the same:-
I experiment with it, maybe use it for a few weeks or months. Then I revert to Windows, generally because something or other that I need to work just doesn't and it's easier to revert to an OS I know will work than to make the effort to find out why I can't make it work in Linux. (Hardware drivers in particular).

This is , assuredly, because my limited computer skills are just not up to it. But I don't want to be an IT expert. I just want to use the 'net, save my photos, send email, print the odd document. Basic stuff. I want the OS to be invisible - which Windows has become over the years. (Up to 7. I know nothing of 8, nor want to).

Apart from lower cost and higher AV resistance, why should I ditch the Windows applications I've bought over the years and move to a new OS?

Or at least, why did you?

I don't have an answer, because my experience is much the same as yours. I've dabbled with Linux since the days when you had to compile a custom kernel to get it to work efficiently. However, what keeps me using Windows, in various versions, as my primary OS is that the catalog of available software is way beyond that of any other OS. It doesn't really matter to me much if an OS works better than Windows, if the software I need isn't available for it. Also, I can be confident that any hardware I buy will work with Windows. This is not always the case (though it is much more frequently than in the past) with Linux.

 

[Soapy Sam]

Indeed. It's a shame, because M$ could do with a competitor other than APPLE.
With the drift to phone OSii gathering momentum, I wonder which direction Linux will go.

 

[Donal]

There will be a need for desktops and laptops for a very long time. There are tasks that simply can't be completed on a touch screen (yet).

I've heard speculation Nadella is getting MS out of the hardware and desktop OS game and focusing them on SaaS and Enterprise. That could leave a big opening for Linux distros.